Air cleaner



June 24, 1952 G w, HARDY ET AL 2,601,519

AIR CLEANER Filed April 10, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l OOOOOOOO m 2 FIG.

. JNVENTORS GORDON m manor, v GEORGE c. RAY a By PAUL CARLE ET AL June 24, 1952 w. HARDY AIR CLEANER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 10, 1948 FIG. 2

6. RAY 8 PAUL CARLE Patented June 24, 1952 AIR CLEANER Gordon W. Hardy, Chula Vista, George 0. Ray, San Diego, and Paul Carle, Coronado, Calif., assignors to Air Purification, Inc., San Diego, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 10, 1948, Serial N 0. 20,256

3 Claims. (Cl. 183-13) Our invention relates to a means and method for removing foreign matter from compressible fluids and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a means and method of this class which very efficiently removes carbon and noxious elements from flue gases smoke.

Second, to provide a means and method of this class in which various foreign materials may be removed from various compressible fluids and emulsified in wetting agent which effectively transfers the foreign materials from the compressible fluid stream into a hydraulic fluid sump from which it may be disposed.

Third, to provide a means of this class in which a centrifugal blower is driven by a source of power independent of the air stream passing through the blower whereby a greater centrifugal velocity is imparted to the air than its velocity axially of the blower.

Fourth, to provide a means of this class in which hydraulic fluid is dispensed centrally of a centrifugal blower through which the compressible fluid is driven causing emulsification of the foreign matter in the compressible fluid with the hydraulic fluid dispensed from said centrally disposed nozzle.

Fifth, to provide a means of this class in which valuable by-products of combustion may be recovered for commercial use.

SlXth, to provide a means of this class which effectively removes foreign matter from a compressible fluid and imparts increased static pressure to the compressible fluid at the outlet of said means in proportion to the inlet pressuretherein, of said compressible fluids.

Seventh, to provide a means and method of this class which may be economically used to substantially eliminate the filth created by what is commonly known as smog issuing from smoke stacksof large factories or the like.

Eighth, to provide a means of this class in' which foreign matter in a compressible fluid is subject to violent impact on surfaces which at all times are covered by a hydraulic fluid medium whereby very efficient emulsification of the foreign matter may be accomplished.

Ninth, to provide a means and method of this class in which products of combustion may be relieved of a great percentage of carbon and noxious materials by recirculation through the said means whereby said recirculation furnishes a portion of the oxygen.

Tenth, to provide a novel method for removing foreign matter from compressible fluids.

Eleventh, to provide a means of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, eflicient in operation and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view which will appear hereinafter, our invention consists Figure 1 of the drawings.

of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims; reference being had in the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the means used in connection with our method for removing foreign matter from compressible fluid. Figure 2 is a plan sectional View taken from the line 22 of Figure 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the drawing.

The casing, l, fire box 2, diverter 3, centrifugal blower 4, motor 5, pump 6, hydraulic fluid conductors I, 8 and 9,strainer elements I0, I I and I2, hydraulic sumps It and i4, and the recirculation conductor l5, and hydraulic reservoir, constitute the principal parts, and portions of our means for removing foreign matter from compressible fluids.

The casing I, forms the main frame and container for our means as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the fire box 2, is placed in the inlet plenum la of the casing l as shown in It will be noted that the inlet plenum in la may be used to receive various compressible fluids other than smoke supplied by the fire box 2 as desired. Directly above the fire box 2 is a frusto-conical diverter 3 having a top plate 3a of larger diameter than the upper end of said diverter, adjacent to which are cordal openings 3b, provided for the escape of air or smoke passing upwardly through the diverter 3 into the cylindrical conductor lb of the: casing I. This cylindrical conductor lb communicates directly with the interior of the centrifugal blower 4. This centrifugal blower 4 is provided with revolving elements 4a which are annular and arranged in super imposed corrugated relationship to each other, the corrugations being transverse of the annular elements as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Angularly disposed vanes 5d are mounted on the frame to within the elements 4a in an annular manner. This blower structure may be varied as desired in order to provide maximum impingement efliciency of foreign matter in compressible fluids passing through the revolving element 4a of the centrifugal blower 4. The motor 5 is provided with a shaft So on which the frame plate 4b of the centrifugal blower is fixed. This shaft la passes through an enclosing cover plate 10 of the casing l which covers the normally upper end of the centrifugal blower 4, causing centrifugal dispersion of the fluids on a substantially horizontal plane as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Driven by means of the belt 51) on the pulley 5c 3 of the motor 5, is a pulley But on the operating shaft 6b on the pump 6 which is a hydraulic pump. This hydraulic pump 6 is provided with a fluid inlet conductor 9, the lower end 9a of which communicates with a hydraulic fluid A in the sump I4 just above the fire box 2 in the casing I. .The outlet fluid conductor I is provided with a nozzle Ia communicating therewith directing hydraulic spring into the recirculation conductor I5 above the strainer II therein. The

bulk of liquid passing through the fluid conductor 1 passes into the hydraulic reservoir I6 which is an annular reservoir disposed above the strainer element II] which is also annular as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings. The hydraulic fluid conductor 8 communicates with the interior of the reservoir I6 and extends downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the casing I and then upwardly into the middle of the centrifugal blower 4. The upwardly extending end 811 of this hydraulic fluid conductor 8 is provided with a plurality of nozzle openings which dispense radially directed hydraulic spray directed toward the revolving elements 4a of the centrifugal blower 4. The inner and outer walls Ida and lb respectively of the strainer II) are preferably made of relatively stiff foraminous materials such as heavy screen wire or the like and the central element of the strainer I0 may be varied to suit the particular requirements for which the strainer II] is designed. For general application such elements as steel wool or the like may be used. The lower end of this annular strainer it extends downwardly into the hydraulic sump I3 formed intermediate the hollow cylindrical por- 1 tion lb of the casing I and the outer wall Id thereof. The casing I is provided with an annular air passage Ie therein surrounding the outer wall Illb of the strainer I0 directly above the sump I3. The inner wall of this passage Ie, designated I 1 extends in vertical relationship to the plane of the cover plate Ic which is co-extensive with the top of the hydraulic reservoir It and the centrifugal blower 4, all'as shown best in Figure l of the drawings. Communicating with the sump I3 is a siphon tube I 3a extending downwardly to the upper side of the strainer I2, as shown in Figure l of the drawings which is disposed in an outlet casing portion lg of the casing I. This outlet casing portion I g is provided with a drain opening and air outlet opening Ih in the bottom thereof which opening In is just above the sump I4 which accumulates emulsifled matter relieved from the compressible fluid passing through the centrifugal blower 4 and into the strainer I0. Communicating directly with the passage la in the casing I is the recirculation conductor I5. This recirculation conductor I5 communicates with the interior of said passage Ie at the upper portion thereof through the opening lk: in the side wall thereof. The strainer I I may be made of similar material to the strainer Ii! hereinbciore described and is interrupted by posed angular bafiies I5a in the recirculationconductor I5 which are downwardly declining as shown in Figure l of the drawings. The inner wall of the recirculation conductor is is provided with an opening I5b above the liquid level in the sump I4 so that compressible fluid may be recirculated through the hollow cylindrical casing lb at. the opening I7 which conduct. a portion of the recirculated compressible fluid to the centrifugal blower while a certain percentage of the compressible fluid passes outwardly through the strainer 12. and the outlet casing Ia to ethics.-

phere. A portion of the compressible fluid is recirculated downwardly into the intake plenum Ia of the casing I through the opening I50 in the side Wall of the recirculation conductor I5, all as shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings.

It will be here noted that the pump 6 communicating with the sump I4 relieves fluid therefrom and supplies said fluid to the strainer II] by means of the reservoir I6 provided with small openings 16a in the bottom thereof directly above said strainer It. It will be here noted that conventional means not shown in the drawings may be used to control the admission of primary air to the fire box 2 in the end left plenum Id of the casing I through the opening 2a in the fire box 2. Thus, outside air or primary oxygen may be admitted to the burner 2 in measured quantities sufficient to augment the recirculated air passing through the opening I50 and the recirculation conductor I5 for efiicient combustion. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, we have provided a service door H which may be used as desired for maintenance work and admission of compressible fluids other than those emitted by the combustion taking place in the fire box 2.

The operation of our means and method for removing foreign matter from compressible fluids is substantially as follows:

When smoke is emitted from the fire box 2 or compressible fluid enters the plenum Ia of the casing land passing as indicated by the arrows B through the diverter 3; the motor 5 is rotating the centrifugal blower 4 in which the vanes 502 under angularly disposed relationship to the axis of the blower 5 cause centrifugal dispersion of the compressible fluid radially through the re volving element 4 of said centrifugal blower. During operation of the motor 5, the pump 6 supplies fluid to the reservoir I6 which in turn supplies fluid to the tube 8 to the nozzle 8a which directs spray radially to the revolving element 4a of the centrifugal blower 4, mist passing downwardly in the hollow cylindrical casing portion Ib is shielded from the flre box 2 by the diverter 3 having the upper plate 3a thereon'so that mist from the spray nozzle 8a does not in any way hamper operation of the combustion in the fire box 2. The motor 5 operating the centrifugal blower 4 causes considerable decrease in pressure at the inlet thereof creating a partial vacuum on the inlet plenum Ia of the casing I which increases the velocity over the normal inlet or thermal velocity passing upward through the diverter 3. The liquid or wetting agent passing out the nozzle portions 8a of the conductor 8 mixes with the air stream and passes horizontally through the revolving element 4 which is designed to cause several different changes in directional movement of the compressible fluid during its passage to the periphery of the revolving element 4a. Thus, the wetting agent or liquid passing radially into the revolving element 4a coats the same and the forceful centrifugal action of the foreign matter in the compressible fluid causes the same to impinge on the surfaces of the revolving element 4a and be emulsified during passage into the strainer ID and preliminary thereto so that vertical drainage of the liquid carrying the foreign matter in emulsification gravitates downwardly in the strainer I0 into the sump 13 from which the siphon I 3a carries the same through the strainer I2 from which it gravitates into the sump I3.

The air passing outwardly through the outer wall .IIib of the strainer it passes into the passage Ie and. thence therefrom through the opening Ilc and into the recirculation conductor I6 in which the liquid or wetting agent passes from the nozzle Ia as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The compressible fluid passing downward through the strainer II is directed by the overlapping opposed declining baifies I5a until it reaches the opening I5b. A portion of the compressible fluid passes through the opening I5b then to the opening Ia and backwardly through the centrifugal blower 4. A small percentage of the compressible fluid surrounds the casing lb and passes outwardly through the opening I71. then up through the strainer I2 saturated by the fluid from the siphon tube I3a. After passing through the strainer I2 the small percentage of air returns to atmosphere. Some of the air passing downwardly in the recirculating conductor I5 passes beyond the opening I51) and thence into the inlet plenum Ia of the casing I through the opening I 50. This air or compressible fluid furnishes a certain proportion of the oxygen required for operating of the combustion in the fire box 2, it is being noted that all the oxygen passing through the compressible fluid is not initially consumed, in combustion.

A fluid contained in the sump I4 and other hydraulic equipment of our means for removing foreign matter from compressible fluids may be a detergent wetting agent or other liquid, particularly suited for removing certain elements from the compressible air stream, thus the elements to be removed from the compressible air stream dictate to an extent the chemical constituents of the liquid maintained in the sump I4.

The operation of our method in connection with the heretofore described means is substantially as follows:

A compressible fluid bearing foreign matter is first moved in one direction, then supplied with hydraulic material in spray form, then the compressible fluid is centrifugally forced abruptly in another direction together with the hydraulic fluid. The compressible medium is then strained; the portion of said compressible fluid is recirculated and again mixed with hydraulic fluid with which it is radially forced centrifugally through the hereinbefore mentioned strainer. The portion of the compressible fluid is exhausted to atmosphere. It will be here noted that the hydraulic fluid supplied to the compressible fluid before centrifugal actuation is particularly adapted to emulsify the foreign matter in the compressible fluid. This method incorporates the actuation of the compressible fluid at a greater speed centrifugally than the initial velocity of the compressible fluid before mixing with the hydraulic fluid and subsequent centrifugal action.

The term compressible fluids, used herein includes, air, gases, smoke, products of combustion, flue vapors, or the like. The term hydraulic, as used herein pertains to liquids having an afiinity for various foreign materials in various compressible fluids. The term emulsion used herein includes the mixture of the foreign matter removed from compressible fluids and the hydraulic fluids having an affinity therefor.

It is to be here noted that the foregoing method is primarily for use in cleaning air or flue gases for removing foreign matter from the air, and removing certain products of combustion from the flue gases. 7

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and a certain method, we do not wish to be limited to this particular method, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination and arrangement, and the method as substantially set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a means of the class described, a motor, a centrifugal blower operated thereby, :a spray nozzle centrally of said blower, at the inlet thereof, a vertical axis cylindrical strainer surrounding said blower, means for supplying liquid to said strainer, a sump below said strainer, a siphon tube communicating with said sump, a second strainer below said siphon tube and a second sump below said second strainer for receiving liquid from said siphon tube through said second strainer.

2. In a means of the class described, a motor, a centrifugal blower operated thereby, a spray nozzle centrally of said blower, at the inlet thereof, a vertical axis cylindrical strainer surrounding said blower, means for supplying liquid to said strainer, a sump below said strainer, a siphon tube communicating with said sump, a second strainer below said siphon tube and a second sump below said second strainer, for receiving liquid from said siphon tube through said second strainer, air passage means at the outlet of said first mentioned strainer communicating with said second mentioned strainer above said last mentioned sump, whereby air passes through said second mentioned strainer to atmosphere. l

3. In a means of the class described, a motor, a centrifugal blower operated thereby, a spray nozzle centrally of said blower, at the inlet thereof, a vertical axis cylindrical strainer surroundin said blower, means for supplying liquid to said strainer, a sump below said strainer, a siphon tube communicating with said sump, a second strainer below said siphon tube and a second sump below said second strainer for rereiving liquid from said siphon tube through said second strainer, air passage means at the outlet of said first mentioned strainer communi eating with said second mentioned strainer above said last mentioned sump, whereby air passes through said second mentioned strainer to atmosphere, a third strainer in said air passage means for removing foreign matter from said air passge means, means for supplying liquid to said third mentioned strainer for washing said foreign matter into said last mentioned sump.

GORDON W. HARDY.

GEORGE C. RAY.

PAUL CARLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 614,586 Thorson Nov. 22,. 1898 911,802 Baldwin Feb. 9, 1909 1,100,144 Noble June 16, 1914 1,779,282 Louis Oct. 21, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 126,226 Austria Jan. 11, 1932 15,837 Great Britain July 6,. 1912 

